dactyl
noun [ C ] literature specialized uk/ˈdæk.tɪl/ us/ˈdæk.tɪl/
（诗歌的）扬抑抑格，长短短格
in poetry, a foot (= a unit of division of rhythm) with one strong or long syllable followed by two unstressed (= not strong) or short syllables
The title of the collection of poems was Jiggery-Pokery, which is a double dactyl. 这本诗集的标题是“Jiggery-Pokery”，是双扬抑抑格。
Dactyls are important in classical verse. 扬抑抑格在古典诗词中很重要。
Compare: anapestiambspondeetrochee
- More examples
- We can hear his voice sounding out the dactyls of "half a league, half a league onwards".
- Her name, Helena Shovelton, is a perfect double dactyl.
- The very name of Anna Karenina has a galloping rhythm, dactyls being commonly used for hoofbeats.
- The dactyls in line 114 contribute to the urgent, questioning tone.